N-(1-alkyl-2-phenylethyl)-carboxamide derivatives and use thereof as fungicides

ABSTRACT

A compound of general formula (I): 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     A process for preparing this compound. 
     A fungicidal composition comprising a compound of general formula (I). 
     A method for treating plants by applying a compound of general formula (I) or a composition comprising it.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is a 35 U.S.C. §371 national phase conversion of PCT/EP2006/068720 filed 21 Nov. 2006, which claims priority of European Application No. 05356202.1 filed 22 Nov. 2005.

The present invention relates to novel N-(1alkyl-2phenylethyl)carboxamide derivatives, their process of preparation, their use as fungicides, particularly in the form of fungicidal compositions, and methods for the control of phytopathogenic fungi of plants using these compounds or their compositions.

International patent application WO 00/026191 discloses picolinamide derivatives of general formula encompassing the compounds according to the present invention, and their use as fungicide. However, compounds according to the present invention are not disclosed in that patent application.

European patent application EP 296673 discloses 5-thiazolecarboxamide derivatives and their use as fungicide. However, compounds according to the present invention are not disclosed in that patent application.

It is always of high-interest in the field of agrochemicals to use pesticidal compounds more active than the compounds already known by the man ordinary skilled in the art whereby less compound can be used whilst retaining equivalent efficacy.

Furthermore, the provision of new pesticidal compounds with a higher efficacy strongly reduces the risk of appearance of resistant strains in the fungi to be treated.

We have now found a new family of compounds which show enhanced fungicidal activity over the general known family of such compounds.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a N-(1alkyl-2phenylethyl)carboxamide derivative of general formula (I)

-   -   in which:     -   n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5;     -   p is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5;     -   X is the same or different and is a halogen atom, a nitro group,         a cyano group, an amino group, a sulfanyl group, a         pentafluoro-λ⁶-sulfanyl group, a formyl group, a formyloxy         group, a formylamino group, a carbamoyl group, a         N-hydroxycarbamoyl group, a carbamate group, a         (hydroxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl group, a C₁-C₈-alkyl, a         C₁-C₈-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a         C₂-C₈-alkenyl, a C₂-C₈-alkynyl, a C₁-C₈-alkylamino, a         di-C₁-C₈-alkylamino, a C₁-C₈-alkoxy, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkoxy         having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylsulfanyl, a         C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylsulfanyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a         C₂-C₈-alkenyloxy, a C₂-C₈-halogenoalkenyloxy having 1 to 5         halogen atoms, a C₃-C₈-alkynyloxy, a C₃-C₈-halogenoalkynyloxy         having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, a         C₃-C₈-halogenocycloalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a         C₁-C₈-alkylcarbonyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylcarbonyl having 1 to 5         halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylcarbamoyl, a         di-C₁-C₈-alkylcarbamoyl, a N—C₁-C₈-alkyloxycarbamoyl, a         C₁-C₈-alkoxycarbamoyl, a N—C₁-C₈-alkyl-C₁-C₈-alkoxycarbamoyl, a         C₁-C₈-alkoxycarbonyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkoxycarbonyl having 1 to         5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylcarbonyloxy, a         C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylcarbonyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a         C₁-C₈-alkylcarbonylamino, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylcarbonylamino         having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylaminocarbonyloxy, a         di-C₁-C₈-alkylaminocarbonyloxy, a C₁-C₈-alkyloxycarbonyloxy, a         C₁-C₈-alkylsulphenyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylsulphenyl having 1 to         5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylsulphinyl, a         C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylsulphinyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a         C₁-C₈-alkylsulphonyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkyl-sulphonyl having 1         to 5 halogen atoms, a (C₁-C₆-alkoxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a         (C₁-C₆-alkenyloxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a         (C₁-C₆-alkynyloxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a         (benzyloxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a benzyloxy, a benzylsulfanyl, a         benzylamino, a phenoxy, a phenylsulfanyl or a phenylamino;     -   R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ are chosen independently of each other as         being a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₆-alkyl or a         C₁-C₆-alkyl-C₃-C₇-cycloalkyl;

provided that at least one of R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ substituents is different from hydrogen;

-   -   R⁵ is a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₆-alkyl or a C₃-C₇-cycloalkyl;     -   Het represents 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocycle with one, two or         three heteroatoms which may be the same or different; Het being         linked by a carbon atom;     -   Y^(a) is an ortho-substituent and is halogen atom, a cyano         group, a sulfanyl group, a pentafluoro-λ⁶-sulfanyl group, a         formyl group, a C₁-C₈-alkyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5         halogen atoms, a C₂-C₈-alkenyl, a C₂-C₈-alkynyl, a C₁-C₈-alkoxy,         a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkoxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a         C₁-C₈-alkylsulfanyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylsulfanyl having 1 to 5         halogen atoms, a C₂-C₈-alkenyloxy, a C₂-C₈-halogenoalkenyloxy         having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₃-C₈-alkynyloxy, a         C₃-C₈-halogenoalkynyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a         C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl or a C₃-C₈-halogenocycloalkyl having 1 to 5         halogen atoms; and     -   Y is the same or different and is a hydrogen atom, a halogen         atom, a C₁-C₆-alkyl; a C₁-C₆-halogenoalkyl, an amino group, a         cyano group, a C₁-C₄-alkylamino or a di-(C₁-C₄-alkyl)amino;

as well as its salts, N-oxides, metallic complexes, metalloidic complexes and optically active isomers.

In the context of the present invention:

halogen means fluorine, bromine, chlorine or iodine.

carboxy means —C(═O)OH;

carbonyl means —C(═O)—;

carbamoyl means —C(═O)NH₂;

N-hydroxycarbamoyl means —C(═O)NHOH;

an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, and an alkynyl group as well as moieties containing these terms, can be linear or branched; and

heteroatom means sulphur, nitrogen or oxygen.

In the context of the present invention, it has also to be understood that in the case of di-substituted amino and of di-substituted carbamoyl radicals, the two substituents may form together with the nitrogen atom bearing them a saturated heterocyclic ring containing 3 to 7 atoms.

Any of the compounds of the present invention can exist in one or more optical or chiral isomer forms depending on the number of asymmetric centres in the compound. The invention thus relates equally to all the optical isomers and to their racemic or scalemic mixtures (the term “scalemic” denotes a mixture of enantiomers in different proportions), and to the mixtures of all the possible stereoisomers, in all proportions. The diastereoisomers and/or the optical isomers can be separated according to the methods which are known per se by the man ordinary skilled in the art.

Any of the compounds of the present invention can also exist in one or more geometric isomer forms depending on the number of double bonds in the compound. The invention thus relates equally to all geometric isomers and to all possible mixtures, in all proportions. The geometric isomers can be separated according to general methods, which are known per se by the man ordinary skilled in the art.

Any of the compounds of general formula (I) wherein X represents a hydroxy, a sulfanyl group or an amino group may be found in its tautomeric form resulting from the shift of the proton of said hydroxy, sulfanyl or amino group. Such tautomeric forms of such compounds are also part of the present invention. More generally speaking, all tautomeric forms of compounds of general formula (I) wherein X represents a hydroxy, a sulfanyl group or an amino group, as well as the tautomeric forms of the compounds which can optionally be used as intermediates in the preparation processes, and which will be defined in the description of these processes, are also part of the present invention.

According to the present invention, the phenyl group may be substituted in any position by (X)_(n), in which X and n are as defined above. Preferably, the present invention relates to N-(1alkyl-2phenylethyl)carboxamide derivative of general formula (I) in which the different characteristics may be chosen alone or in combination as being:

as regards n, n is chosen as being 1, 2 or 3. More preferably n is 1 or 2; and

as regards X, X is chosen as being a halogen atom, a (hydroxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl group, a C₁-C₈-alkyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a (C₁-C₆-alkoxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a (C₁-C₆-alkenyloxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl or a (C₁-C₆-alkynyloxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl. More preferably X is chosen as being a halogen atom or a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.

According to the present invention, the carbon atoms of the ethylamide moiety of the compound of formula (I) are substituted by R¹, R², R³ and R⁴; R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ being as defined above. Preferably, the present invention also relates to N-(1alkyl-2phenylethyl)carboxamide derivative of general formula (I) in which the different characteristics may be chosen alone or in combination as being:

as regards R¹ and R², R¹ and R² are chosen, independently of each other, as being a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom;

as regards R³ and R⁴, R³ and R⁴ are chosen, independently of each other, as being a hydrogen atom or C₁-C₈-alkyl. More preferably R³ is chosen as being a methyl group and R⁴ is chosen as being a hydrogen atom.

According to the present invention, the nitrogen atom of the carboxamide moiety of the compound of formula (I) is substituted by R⁵, R⁵ being a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₆-alkyl or a C₃-C₇-cycloalkyl. Preferably, the C₃-C₇-cycloalkyl is cyclopropyl.

According to the present invention, “Het” of the compound of general formula (I) is a 5-, 6- or 7-membered non-fused heterocycle with one, two or three heteroatoms which may be the same or different, Het being linked by a carbon atom and being substituted at least in ortho-position by Y^(a), Y^(a) being as defined above. Preferably, the present invention also relates to N-(1alkyl-2phenylethyl)carboxamide derivative of general formula (I) in which the different characteristics may be chosen alone or in combination as being:

as regards Het, Het is chosen as being 2-furan, 3-furan, 4,5-dihydro-3-furan, 2-thiophene, 3-thiophene, 2-pyrrole, 3-pyrrole, 5-oxazole, 4-oxazole, 5-thiazole, 4-thiazole, 5-pyrazole, 4-pyrazole, 3-pyrazole, 3-isoxazole, 4-isoxazole, 5-isoxazole, 3-isothiazole, 4-1,2,3-triazole, 4-thiadiazole, 5-thidiazole, 2-pyridine, 3-pyridine, 4-pyridine, 2-oxathiine, 4,5-dihydro-3-pyran, 4,5-dihydro-2-thiopyran, 4,5-dihydro-3-thiopyran or 2-pyrazine;

as regards Y^(a), Y^(a) is chosen as being a halogen atom, a C₁-C₈-alkyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms;

as regards p, p is 1, 2, or 3. More preferably p is 1 or 2; and

as regards Y, Y is chosen as being a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a C₁-C₆-alkyl.

According to the present invention, “Het” of the compound of general formula (I) may be a five membered ring heterocycle. Specific examples of compounds of the present invention where Het is a five membered heterocycle include:

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-1)

-   -   in which:     -   R⁶ and R⁷ may be the same or different and may be a hydrogen         atom, a halogen atom, an amino group, a nitro group, a         C₁-C₄-alkyl or a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen         atoms; and     -   R⁸ may be a halogen atom, a nitro group, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-2)

-   -   in which:     -   R⁹ may be a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms; and     -   R¹⁰ and R¹¹ may be the same or different and may be a hydrogen         atom, a halogen atom, an amino group, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms;

provided that the R⁹ and R¹¹ are not both a hydrogen atom.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-3)

-   -   in which:     -   R¹² may be a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms; and     -   R¹³ may be a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-4)

-   -   in which:     -   R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ may be the same or different and may be a hydrogen         atom, a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl         having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₄-alkylthio, a         C₁-C₄-alkylsulphonyl, a phenyl optionally substituted by a         halogen atom or a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a pyridyl optionally         substituted by a halogen atom or a C₁-C₄-alkyl; and     -   R¹⁶ may be a halogen atom, a cyano group, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkoxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-5)

-   -   in which:     -   R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ may be the same or different and may be a hydrogen         atom, a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-alkyloxy or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms; and     -   R¹⁹ may be a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms;

provided that the R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ are not both a hydrogen atom.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-6)

-   -   in which:     -   R²⁰ may be a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a         C₁-C₄-alkyl or a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen         atoms;     -   R²¹ and R²³ may be the same or different and may be a hydrogen         atom, a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl         having 1 to 5 halogen atoms; and     -   R²² may be a hydrogen atom, a cyano group, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a         C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, a hydroxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, a         C₁-C₄-alkylsulphonyl, a di(C₁-C₄-alkyl)aminosulphonyl, a         C₁-C₆-alkylcarbonyl, a phenylsulphonyl optionally substituted by         a halogen atom or a C₁-C₄-alkyl, or a benzoyl optionally         substituted by a halogen atom or a C₁-C₄-alkyl;

provided that the R²⁰ and R²³ are not both a hydrogen atom.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-7)

-   -   in which:     -   R²⁴ may be a hydrogen atom, a cyano group, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a         C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, a hydroxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, a         C₁-C₄-alkylsulphonyl, a di(C₁-C₄-alkyl)aminosulphonyl, a         C₁-C₆-alkylcarbonyl, a phenylsulphonyl optionally substituted by         a halogen atom or a C₁-C₄-alkyl, or a benzoyl optionally         substituted by a halogen atom or a C₁-C₄-alkyl; and     -   R²⁵, R²⁶ and R²⁷ may be the same or different and may be a         hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms or a         C₁-C₄-alkylcarbonyl;

provided that R²⁴ and R²⁷ are not both a hydrogen atom.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-8)

-   -   in which:     -   R²⁸ may be a hydrogen atom or a C₁-C₄-alkyl; and     -   R²⁹ may be a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-9)

-   -   in which:     -   R³⁰ may be a hydrogen atom or a C₁-C₄-alkyl; and     -   R³¹ may be a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl         having 1 to 5 halogen atoms or a phenyl optionally substituted         by a halogen atom or a C₁-C₄-alkyl.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-10)

-   -   in which:     -   R³² may be a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an amino group, a         cyano group, a C₁-C₄-alkylamino, a di-(C₁-C₄-alkyl)amino, a         C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms         or a phenyl optionally substituted by a halogen atom or a         C₁-C₄-alkyl; and     -   R³³ may be a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-11)

-   -   in which:     -   R³⁴ may be a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an amino group, a         cyano group, a C₁-C₄-alkylamino, a di-(C₁-C₄-alkyl)amino, a         C₁-C₄-alkyl or a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen         atoms; and     -   R³⁵ may be a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-12)

-   -   in which:     -   R³⁶ may be a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, a         C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms,         a C₃-C₆-cycloalkyl, a C₁-C₄-alkoxy, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkoxy         having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₄-alkylthio, a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkylthio having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, an         aminocarbonyl group or an aminocarbonyl-C₁-C₄-alkyl;     -   R³⁷ may be a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a         nitro group, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-alkoxy or a C₁-C₄-alkylthio;         and     -   R³⁸ may be a hydrogen atom, a phenyl, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a         hydroxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₂-C₆-alkenyl, a C₃-C₆-cycloalkyl, a         C₁-C₄-alkylthio-C₁-C₄-alkyl, a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkylthio-C₁-C₄-alkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms,         a C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl or a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl         having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-13)

-   -   in which:     -   R³⁹ may be a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a         nitro group, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5         halogen atoms, a C₃-C₆-cycloalkyl, a C₁-C₄-alkoxy, a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkoxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a         C₁-C₄-alkylthio, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkylthio having 1 to 5 halogen         atoms, an aminocarbonyl or an aminocarbonyl-C₁-C₄-alkyl;     -   R⁴⁰ may be a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a         C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-alkoxy, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkoxy having 1 to         5 halogen atoms or a C₁-C₄-alkylthio; and     -   R⁴¹ may be a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl         having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a hydroxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, a         C₂-C₆-alkenyl, a C₃-C₆-cycloalkyl, a         C₁-C₄-alkylthio-C₁-C₄-alkyl, a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkylthio-C₁-C₄-alkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms,         a C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl         having 1 to 5 halogen atoms or a phenyl optionally substituted         by a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-alkoxyalkyl or a nitro         group;

provided that the R³⁹ and R⁴⁰ are not both a hydrogen atom.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-14)

-   -   in which:     -   R⁴² may be a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a         nitro group, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5         halogen atoms, a C₃-C₆-cycloalkyl, a C₁-C₄-alkoxy, a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkoxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a         C₁-C₄-alkylthio, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkylthio having 1 to 5 halogen         atoms, an aminocarbonyl, or an aminocarbonyl-C₁-C₄-alkyl;     -   R⁴³ may be a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a         C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-alkoxy, a C₁-C₄-alkylthio or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalky having 1 to 5 halogen atoms;     -   R⁴⁴ may be a hydrogen atom, a phenyl, a benzyl, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a         hydroxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₂-C₆-alkenyl, a C₃-C₆-cycloalkyl, a         C₁-C₄-alkylthio-C₁-C₄-alkyl, a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkylthio-C₁-C₄-alkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms,         a C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl         having 1 to 5 halogen atoms;

provided that R⁴³ and R⁴⁴ are not both a hydrogen atom.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-15)

-   -   in which:     -   R⁴⁵ may be a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms; and     -   R⁴⁶ may be a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-16)

-   -   in which R⁴⁷ and R⁴⁸ may be the same or different and may be a         hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a phenyl         optionally substituted by a halogen atom or a C₁-C₄-alkyl, or a         heterocyclyl optionally substituted by a halogen atom or a         C₁-C₄-alkyl;

provided that R⁴⁷ and R⁴⁸ are not both a hydrogen atom.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-17)

-   -   in which     -   R⁴⁹ may be a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms. and     -   R⁵⁰ may be a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-18)

-   -   in which R⁵¹ may be a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-19)

-   -   in which:     -   R⁵² may be a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms; and     -   R⁵³ may be a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl         having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, or a phenyl optionally substituted         by a halogen atom or a C₁-C₄-alkyl.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-20)

-   -   in which R⁵⁴ may be a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.

According to the present invention, “Het” of the compound of general formula (I) may be a six membered ring heterocycle. Specific examples of compounds of the present invention where Het is a six membered heterocycle include:

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-21)

-   -   in which:     -   R⁵⁵ may be a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a cyano group, a         C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms,         a C₁-C₄-alkoxy, a C₁-C₄-alkylthio, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkylthio         having 1 to 5 halogen atoms or a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkoxy having 1         to 5 halogen atoms;     -   R⁵⁶, R⁵⁷ and R⁵⁸, which may be the same or different, may be a         hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₄-alkoxy,         a C₁-C₄-alkylthio, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkoxy having 1 to 5 halogen         atoms, a C₁-C₄-alkylsulphinyl or a C₁-C₄-alkylsulphonyl.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-22)

-   -   in which:     -   R⁵⁹ may be a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a         cyano group, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5         halogen atoms, a C₁-C₄-alkoxy, a C₁-C₅-alkylthio, a         C₂-C₅-alkenylthio a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkylthio having 1 to 5         halogen atoms, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkoxy having 1 to 5 halogen         atoms, a phenyloxy optionally substituted by a halogen atom or a         C₁-C₄-alkyl, or a phenylthio optionally substituted by a halogen         atom or a C₁-C₄-alkyl;     -   R⁶⁰, R⁶¹ and R⁶², which may the same or different, may be a         hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₄-alkoxy,         a C₁-C₄-alkylthio, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkoxy having 1 to 5 halogen         atoms, a C₁-C₄-alkylsulphinyl, a C₁-C₄-alkylsulphonyl or a         N-morpholine optionally substituted by a halogen atom or a         C₁-C₄-alkyl, or a thienyl optionally substituted by a halogen         atom or a C₁-C₄-alkyl;

provided that the R⁵⁹ and R⁶² are not both a hydrogen atom.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-23)

-   -   in which R⁶³, R⁶⁴, R⁶⁵ and R⁶⁶, which may be the same or         different, may be a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxy         group, a cyano group, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl         having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₄-alkoxy, a C₁-C₄-alkylthio,         a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkylthio having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkoxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a         C₁-C₄-alkylsulphinyl or a C₁-C₄-alkylsulphonyl;

provided that the R⁶³ and R⁶⁶ are not both a hydrogen atom.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-24)

-   -   in which:     -   R⁶⁷ may be a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms;     -   R⁶⁸ may be a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl         having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₆-alkoxycarbonyl, a benzyl         optionally substituted by 1 to 3 halogen atoms, a         benzyloxycarbonyl optionally substituted by 1 to 3 halogen atoms         or a heterocyclyl.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-25)

-   -   in which:     -   R⁶⁹ may be a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a cyano group, a         C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms,         a C₁-C₄-alkoxy, a C₁-C₄-alkylthio, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkylthio         having 1 to 5 halogen atoms or a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkoxy having 1         to 5 halogen atoms;     -   R⁷⁰ may be a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl         having 1 to 5 halogen atoms or a benzyl.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-26)

-   -   in which:     -   Q¹ may be a sulphur atom, —SO—, —SO₂— or —CH₂—;     -   R⁷¹ may be a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5         halogen atoms; and     -   R⁷² and R⁷³ may be the same or different and may be a hydrogen         atom or a C₁-C₄-alkyl.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-27)

-   -   in which:     -   R⁷⁴ may be a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5         halogen atoms;

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-28)

-   -   in which:     -   R⁷⁵ may be a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5         halogen atoms.

Het represents a heterocycle of the general formula (Het-29)

-   -   in which R⁷⁶ may be a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl or a         C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.

The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of the compound of general formula (I). Thus, according to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a process for the preparation of a compound of general formula (I) which comprises reacting a 1-alkyl-2-phenylethylamine derivative of general formula (II) or one of its salt

in which R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, X and n, are as defined above;

with a carboxylic acid derivative of the general formula (III)

-   -   in which:     -   Het, Y^(a), y and p are as defined above; and     -   L¹ is a leaving group chosen as being a halogen atom, a hydroxyl         group, —OR⁷⁷, —OCOR⁷⁷, R⁷⁷ being a C₁-C₆ alkyl, a C₁-C₆         haloalkyl, a benzyl, 4-methoxybenzyl, pentafluorophenyl or a         group of formula

in the presence of a catalyst and, if L¹ is a hydroxyl group, in the presence of a condensing agent.

The process according to the present invention is conducted in the presence of a catalyst. Suitable catalyst may be chosen as being 4-dimethyl-aminopyridine, 1-hydroxy-benzotriazole or dimethylformamide.

In case L¹ is a hydroxyl group, the process according to the present invention is conducted in the presence of condensing agent. Suitable condensing agent may be chosen as being acid halide former, such as phosgene, phosphorous tribromide, phosphorous trichloride, phosphorous pentachloride, phosphorous trichloride oxide or thionyl chloride; anhydride former, such as ethyl chloroformate, methyl chloroformate, isopropyl chloroformate, isobutyl chloroformate or methanesulfonyl-chloride; carbodiimides, such as N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) or other customary condensing agents, such as phosphorous pentoxide, polyphosphoric acid, N,N′-carbonyl-diimidazole, 2-ethoxy-N-ethoxycarbonyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ), triphenylphosphine/tetrachloromethane, 4-(4,6-dimethoxy[1.3.5]triazin-2-yl)-4-methylmorpholinium chloride hydrate or bromo-tripyrrolidino-phosphonium-hexafluorophosphate.

When R⁵ is a hydrogen atom, the above mentioned process for the preparation of compound of general formula (I) may optionally be completed by a further step according to the following reaction scheme:

in which:

-   -   —R¹, R², R³, R⁴, X, n, Het, Y^(a), Y and p are as defined above;     -   L² is a leaving group chosen as being a halogen atom, a 4-methyl         phenylsulfonyloxy or a methylsulfonyloxy; and     -   R^(5a) is a C₁-C₆-alkyl group or a C₃-C₇-cycloalkyl;         comprising the reaction of a compound of general formula (Ib)         with a compound of general formula (VI) to provide a compound of         general formula (Ia).

Depending on the definition of R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, X, and n, amine derivatives of general formula (II) may be prepared by different processes. One example (A) of such a process may be when:

R¹, R², R³, R⁵, X and n are as defined above; and

R⁴ is a hydrogen atom;

then, the amine derivative of general formula (II) may be prepared according to a process which comprises:

a first step according to reaction scheme A-1:

-   -   in which R¹, R², R³, R⁵, X and n are as defined above;         comprising the reaction of a compound of general formula (IV)         with an amine of formula R⁵—NH₂ to provide an imine derivative         of general formula (V);

a second step according to scheme A-2

-   -   in which R¹, R², R³, R⁵, X and n are as defined above;         comprising the reduction of an imine derivative of general         formula (V) by hydrogenation or by an hydride donor, in the same         or a different pot to provide an amine derivative of general         formula (IIa) or one of its salt. Preferably, the hydride donor         is chosen as being metal or metalloid hydrides such as LiAlH₄,         NaBH₄, NaBH₃CN, KBH₄, B₂H₆.

The compound according to the present invention can be prepared according to the general processes of preparation described above. It will nevertheless be understood that, on the basis of his general knowledge and of available publications, the skilled worker will be able to adapt this method according to the specifics of each of the compounds, which it is desired to synthesise.

On the basis of his general knowledge and of available publications, the skilled worker will also be able to prepare intermediate compound of formula (V) according to the present invention.

The present invention also relates to a fungicidal composition comprising an effective amount of an active material of general formula (I). Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided a fungicidal composition comprising, as an active ingredient, an effective amount of a compound of general formula (I) as defined above and an agriculturally acceptable support, carrier or filler.

In the present specification, the term “support” denotes a natural or synthetic, organic or inorganic material with which the active material is combined to make it easier to apply, notably to the parts of the plant. This support is thus generally inert and should be agriculturally acceptable. The support may be a solid or a liquid. Examples of suitable supports include clays, natural or synthetic silicates, silica, resins, waxes, solid fertilisers, water, alcohols, in particular butanol, organic solvents, mineral and plant oils and derivatives thereof. Mixtures of such supports may also be used.

The composition may also comprise additional components. In particular, the composition may further comprise a surfactant. The surfactant can be an emulsifier, a dispersing agent or a wetting agent of ionic or non-ionic type or a mixture of such surfactants. Mention may be made, for example, of polyacrylic acid salts, lignosulphonic acid salts, phenolsulphonic or naphthalenesulphonic acid salts, polycondensates of ethylene oxide with fatty alcohols or with fatty acids or with fatty amines, substituted phenols (in particular alkylphenols or arylphenols), salts of sulphosuccinic acid esters, taurine derivatives (in particular alkyl taurates), phosphoric esters of polyoxyethylated alcohols or phenols, fatty acid esters of polyols, and derivatives of the above compounds containing sulphate, sulphonate and phosphate functions. The presence of at least one surfactant is generally essential when the active material and/or the inert support are water-insoluble and when the vector agent for the application is water. Preferably, surfactant content may be comprised between 5% and 40% by weight of the composition.

Optionally, additional components may also be included, e.g. protective colloids, adhesives, thickeners, thixotropic agents, penetration agents, stabilisers, sequestering agents. More generally, the active materials can be combined with any solid or liquid additive, which complies with the usual formulation techniques.

In general, the composition according to the invention may contain from 0.05 to 99% (by weight) of active material, preferably 10 to 70% by weight.

Compositions according to the present invention can be used in various forms such as aerosol dispenser, capsule suspension, cold fogging concentrate, dustable powder, emulsifiable concentrate, emulsion oil in water, emulsion water in oil, encapsulated granule, fine granule, flowable concentrate for seed treatment, gas (under pressure), gas generating product, granule, hot fogging concentrate, macrogranule, microgranule, oil dispersible powder, oil miscible flowable concentrate, oil miscible liquid, paste, plant rodlet, powder for dry seed treatment, seed coated with a pesticide, soluble concentrate, soluble powder, solution for seed treatment, suspension concentrate (flowable concentrate), ultra low volume (ulv) liquid, ultra low volume (ulv) suspension, water dispersible granules or tablets, water dispersible powder for slurry treatment, water soluble granules or tablets, water soluble powder for seed treatment and wettable powder.

These compositions include not only compositions which are ready to be applied to the plant or seed to be treated by means of a suitable device, such as a spraying or dusting device, but also concentrated commercial compositions which must be diluted before application to the crop.

The compounds of the invention can also be mixed with one or more insecticides, fungicides, bactericides, attractant acaricides or pheromones or other compounds with biological activity. The mixtures thus obtained have a broadened spectrum of activity. The mixtures with other fungicides are particularly advantageous. Examples of suitable fungicide mixing partners may be selected in the following lists

1) a compound capable to inhibit the nucleic acid synthesis like benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, bupirimate, chiralaxyl, clozylacon, dimethirimol, ethirimol, furalaxyl, hymexazol, mefenoxam, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M, ofurace, oxadixyl, oxolinic acid;

2) a compound capable to inhibit the mitosis and cell division like benomyl, carbendazim, diethofencarb, ethaboxam, fuberidazole, pencycuron, thiabendazole thiophanate-methyl, zoxamide;

3) a compound capable to inhibit the respiration for example

as CI-respiration inhibitor like diflumetorim;

as CII-respiration inhibitor like boscalid, carboxin, fenfuram, flutolanil, furametpyr, furmecyclox, mepronil, oxycarboxine, penthiopyrad, thifluzamide;

as CIII-respiration inhibitor like amisulbrom, azoxystrobin, cyazofamid, dimoxystrobin, enestrobin, famoxadone, fenamidone, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, trifloxystrobin;

4) a compound capable of to act as an uncoupler like dinocap, fluazinam, meptyldinocap;

5) a compound capable to inhibit ATP production like fentin acetate, fentin chloride, fentin hydroxide, silthiofam;

6) a compound capable to inhibit AA and protein biosynthesis like andoprim, blasticidin-S, cyprodinil, kasugamycin, kasugamycin hydrochloride hydrate, mepanipyrim, pyrimethanil;

7) a compound capable to inhibit the signal transduction like fenpiclonil, fludioxonil, quinoxyfen;

8) a compound capable to inhibit lipid and membrane synthesis like biphenyl, chlozolinate, edifenphos, etridiazole, iodocarb, iprobenfos, iprodione, isoprothiolane, procymidone, propamocarb, propamocarb hydrochloride, pyrazophos, tolclofos-methyl, vinclozolin;

9) a compound capable to inhibit ergosterol biosynthesis like aldimorph, azaconazole, bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, diclobutrazole, difenoconazole, diniconazole, diniconazole-M, dodemorph, dodemorph acetate, epoxiconazole, etaconazole, fenarimol, fenbuconazole, fenhexamid, fenpropidin, fenpropimorph, fluquinconazole, flurprimidol, flusilazole, flutriafol, furconazole, furconazole-cis, hexaconazole, imazalil, imazalil sulfate, imibenconazole, ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, naftifine, nuarimol, oxpoconazole, paclobutrazol, pefurazoate, penconazole, prochloraz, propiconazole, prothioconazole, pyributicarb, pyrifenox, simeconazole, spiroxamine, tebuconazole, terbinafine, tetraconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol, tridemorph, triflumizole, triforine, triticonazole, uniconazole, viniconazole, voriconazole;

10) a compound capable to inhibit cell wall synthesis like benthiavalicarb, bialaphos, dimethomorph, flumorph, iprovalicarb, mandipropamid, polyoxins, polyoxorim, validamycin A;

11) a compound capable to inhibit melanine biosynthesis like carpropamid, diclocymet, fenoxanil, phthalide, pyroquilon, tricyclazole;

12) a compound capable to induce a host defence like acibenzolar-S-methyl, probenazole, tiadinil;

13) a compound capable to have a multisite action like Bordeaux mixture, captafol, captan, chlorothalonil, copper naphthenate, copper oxide, copper oxychloride, copper preparations such as copper hydroxide, copper sulphate, dichlofluanid, dithianon, dodine, dodine free base, ferbam, fluorofolpet, folpet, guazatine, guazatine acetate, iminoctadine, iminoctadine albesilate, iminoctadine triacetate, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, metiram zinc, oxine-copper, propineb, sulphur and sulphur preparations including calcium polysulphide, thiram, tolylfluanid, zineb, ziram;

14) a compound selected in the following list: (2E)-2-(2-{[6-(3-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)-5-fluoropyrimidin-4-yl]oxy}phenyl)-2-(methoxyimino)-N-methylacetamide, (2E)-2-{2-[({[(1E)-1-(3-{[(E)-1-fluoro-2-phenylvinyl]oxy}phenyl)ethylidene]amino}oxy)methyl]phenyl}-2-(methoxyimino)-N-methylacetamide, 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)cycloheptanol, 1-[(4-methoxyphenoxy)methyl]-2,2-dimethylpropyl-1H-imidazole-1-carboxylate, 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-(methylsulfonyl)pyridine, 2-butoxy-6-iodo-3-propyl-4H-chromen-4-one, 2-chloro-N-(1,1,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-yl)nicotinamide, 2-phenylphenol and salts, 3,4,5-trichloropyridine-2,6-dicarbonitrile, 3,4-dichloro-N-(2-cyanophenyl)isothiazole-5-carboxamide, 3-[5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,3-dimethylisoxazolidin-3-yl]pyridine, 5-chloro-6-(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)-N-[(1R)-1,2,2-trimethylpropyl][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-amine, 5-chloro-7-(4-methylpiperidin-1-yl)-6-(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine, 5-chloro-N-[(1R)-1,2-dimethylpropyl]-6-(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-amine, 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate, benthiazole, bethoxazin, capsimycin, carvone, chinomethionat, cufraneb, cyflufenamid, cymoxanil, dazomet, debacarb, dichlorophen, diclomezine, dicloran, difenzoquat, difenzoquat methylsulphate, diphenylamine, ferimzone, flumetover, fluopicolide, fluoroimide, flusulfamide, fosetyl-aluminium, fosetyl-calcium, fosetyl-sodium, hexachlorobenzene, irumamycin, isotianil, methasulfocarb, methyl (2E)-2-{2-[({cyclopropyl[(4-methoxyphenyl)imino]methyl}thio)methyl]phenyl}-3-methoxyacrylate, methyl 1-(2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-yl)-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate, methyl isothiocyanate, metrafenone, mildiomycin, N-(3′,4′-dichloro-5-fluorobiphenyl-2-yl)-3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, N-(3-ethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexyl)-3-(formylamino)-2-hydroxybenzamide, N-(4-chloro-2-nitrophenyl)-N-ethyl-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide, N-(4-chlorobenzyl)-3-[3-methoxy-4-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)phenyl]propanamide, N-[(4-chlorophenyl)(cyano)methyl]-3-[3-methoxy-4-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)phenyl]propanamide, N-[(5-bromo-3-chloropyridin-2-yl)methyl]-2,4-dichloronicotinamide, N-[1-(5-bromo-3-chloropyridin-2-yl)ethyl]-2,4-dichloronicotinamide, N-[1-(5-bromo-3-chloropyridin-2-yl)ethyl]-2-fluoro-4-iodonicotinamide, N-[2-(4-{[3-(4-chlorophenyl)prop-2-yn-1-yl]oxy}-3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-N<-(methylsulfonyl)valinamide, N-{(Z)-[(cyclopropylmethoxy)imino][6-(difluoromethoxy)-2,3-difluorophenyl]methyl}-2-phenylacetamide, N-{2-[1,1′-bi(cyclopropyl)-2-yl]phenyl}-3-(difluoromethyl)-, 1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, N-{2-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yl]ethyl}-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, natamycin, N-ethyl-N-methyl-N′-{2-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)-4-[3-(trimethylsilyl)propoxy]phenyl}imidoformamide, N-ethyl-N-methyl-N′-{2-methyl-5-(difluoromethyl)-4-[3-(trimethylsilyl)propoxy]phenyl}imidoformamide, nickel dimethyldithiocarbamate, nitrothal-isopropyl, O-{1-[(4-methoxyphenoxy)methyl]-2,2-dimethylpropyl}1H-imidazole-1-carbothioate, octhilinone, oxamocarb, oxyfenthiin, pentachlorophenol and salts, phosphorous acid and its salts, piperalin, propamocarb fosetylate, propanosine-sodium, proquinazid, pyribencarb, pyrrolnitrine, quintozene, tecloftalam, tecnazene, triazoxide, trichiamide, valiphenal, zarilamid.

The composition according to the invention comprising a mixture of a compound of formula (I) with a bactericide compound may also be particularly advantageous. Examples of suitable bactericide mixing partners may be selected in the following list: bronopol, dichlorophen, nitrapyrin, nickel dimethyldithiocarbamate, kasugamycin, octhilinone, furancarboxylic acid, oxytetracycline, probenazole, streptomycin, tecloftalam, copper sulphate and other copper preparations.

The fungicidal compositions of the present invention can be used to curatively or preventively control the phytopathogenic fungi of crops. Thus, according to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for curatively or preventively controlling the phytopathogenic fungi of crops characterised in that a fungicidal composition as hereinbefore defined is applied to the seed, the plant and/or to the fruit of the plant or to the soil in which the plant is growing or in which it is desired to grow.

The composition as used against phytopathogenic fungi of crops comprises an effective and non-phytotoxic amount of an active material of general formula (I).

The expression “effective and non-phytotoxic amount” means an amount of composition according to the invention which is sufficient to control or destroy the fungi present or liable to appear on the crops, and which does not entail any appreciable symptom of phytotoxicity for the said crops. Such an amount can vary within a wide range depending on the fungus to be controlled, the type of crop, the climatic conditions and the compounds included in the fungicidal composition according to the invention.

This amount can be determined by systematic field trials, which are within the capabilities of a person skilled in the art.

The method of treatment according to the present invention is useful to treat propagation material such as tubers or rhizomes, but also seeds, seedlings or seedlings pricking out and plants or plants pricking out. This method of treatment can also be useful to treat roots. The method of treatment according to the present invention can also be useful to treat the overground parts of the plant such as trunks, stems or stalks, leaves, flowers and fruits of the concerned plant.

Among the plants that can be protected by the method according to the present invention, mention may be made of cotton; flax; vine; fruit or vegetable crops such as Rosaceae sp. (for instance pip fruit such as apples and pears, but also stone fruit such as apricots, almonds and peaches), Ribesioidae sp., Juglandaceae sp., Betulaceae sp., Anacardiaceae sp., Fagaceae sp., Moraceae sp., Oleaceae sp., Actinidaceae sp., Lauraceae sp., Musaceae sp. (for instance banana trees and plantins), Rubiaceae sp., Theaceae sp., Sterculiceae sp., Rutaceae sp. (for instance lemons, oranges and grapefruit); Solanaceae sp. (for instance tomatoes), Liliaceae sp., Asteraceae sp. (for instance lettuces), Umbelliferae sp., Cruciferae sp., Chenopodiaceae sp., Cucurbitaceae sp., Papilionaceae sp. (for instance peas), Rosaceae sp. (for instance strawberries); major crops such as Graminae sp. (for instance maize, lawn or cereals such as wheat, rice, barley and triticale), Asteraceae sp. (for instance sunflower), Cruciferae sp. (for instance colza), Fabacae sp. (for instance peanuts), Papilionaceae sp. (for instance soybean), Solanaceae sp. (for instance potatoes), Chenopodiaceae sp. (for instance beetroots); horticultural and forest crops; as well as genetically modified homologues of these crops.

Among the diseases of plants or crops that can be controlled by the method according to the present invention, mention may be made of:

Powdery mildew diseases such as:

Blumeria diseases, caused for example by Blumeria graminis;

Podosphaera diseases, caused for example by Podosphaera leucotricha;

Sphaerotheca diseases, caused for example by Sphaerotheca fuliginea;

Uncinula diseases, caused for example by Uncinula necator;

Rust diseases such as:

Gymnosporangium diseases, caused for example by Gymnosporangium sabinae;

Hemileia diseases, caused for example by Hemileia vastatrix;

Phakopsora diseases, caused for example by Phakopsora pachyrhizi or Phakopsora meibomiae;

Puccinia diseases, caused for example by Puccinia recondita;

Uromyces diseases, caused for example by Uromyces appendiculatus;

Oomycete diseases such as:

Bremia diseases, caused for example by Bremia lactucae;

Peronospora diseases, caused for example by Peronospora pisi or P. brassicae;

Phytophthora diseases, caused for example by Phytophthora infestans;

Plasmopara diseases, caused for example by Plasmopara viticola;

Pseudoperonospora diseases, caused for example by Pseudoperonospora humuli or Pseudoperonospora cubensis;

Pythium diseases, caused for example by Pythium ultimum;

Leafspot, leaf blotch and leaf blight diseases such as:

Alternaria diseases, caused for example by Alternaria solani;

Cercospora diseases, caused for example by Cercospora beticola;

Cladiosporum diseases, caused for example by Cladiosporium cucumerinum;

Cochliobolus diseases, caused for example by Cochliobolus sativus;

Colletotrichum diseases, caused for example by Colletotrichum lindemuthanium;

Cycloconium diseases, caused for example by Cycloconium oleaginum;

Diaporthe diseases, caused for example by Diaporthe citri;

Elsinoe diseases, caused for example by Elsinoe fawcettii;

Gloeosporium diseases, caused for example by Gloeosporium laeticolor;

Glomerella diseases, caused for example by Glomerella cingulata;

Guignardia diseases, caused for example by Guignardia bidwelli;

Leptosphaeria diseases, caused for example by Leptosphaeria maculans; Leptosphaeria nodorum;

Magnaporthe diseases, caused for example by Magnaporthe grisea;

Mycosphaerella diseases, caused for example by Mycosphaerella graminicola; Mycosphaerella arachidicola; Mycosphaerella fijiensis;

Phaeosphaeria diseases, caused for example by Phaeosphaeria nodorum;

Pyrenophora diseases, caused for example by Pyrenophora teres;

Ramularia diseases, caused for example by Ramularia collo-cygni;

Rhynchosporium diseases, caused for example by Rhynchosporium secalis;

Septoria diseases, caused for example by Septoria apii or Septoria lycopercisi;

Typhula diseases, caused for example by Typhula incarnata;

Venturia diseases, caused for example by Venturia inaequalis;

Root and stem diseases such as:

Corticium diseases, caused for example by Corticium graminearum;

Fusarium diseases, caused for example by Fusarium oxysporum;

Gaeumannomyces diseases, caused for example by Gaeumannomyces graminis;

Rhizoctonia diseases, caused for example by Rhizoctonia solani;

Tapesia diseases, caused for example by Tapesia acuformis;

Thielaviopsis diseases, caused for example by Thielaviopsis basicola;

Ear and panicle diseases such as:

Alternaria diseases, caused for example by Alternaria spp.;

Aspergillus diseases, caused for example by Aspergillus flavus;

Cladosporium diseases, caused for example by Cladosporium spp.;

Claviceps diseases, caused for example by Claviceps purpurea;

Fusarium diseases, caused for example by Fusarium culmorum;

Gibberella diseases, caused for example by Gibberella zeae;

Monographella diseases, caused for example by Monographella nivalis;

Smut and bunt diseases such as:

Sphacelotheca diseases, caused for example by Sphacelotheca reiliana;

Tilletia diseases, caused for example by Tilletia caries;

Urocystis diseases, caused for example by Urocystis occulta;

Ustilago diseases, caused for example by Ustilago nuda;

Fruit rot and mould diseases such as:

Aspergillus diseases, caused for example by Aspergillus flavus;

Botrytis diseases, caused for example by Botrytis cinerea;

Penicillium diseases, caused for example by Penicillium expansum;

Sclerotinia diseases, caused for example by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum;

Verticilium diseases, caused for example by Verticilium alboatrum;

Seed and soilborne decay, mould, wilt, rot and damping-off diseases:

Fusarium diseases, caused for example by Fusarium culmorum;

Phytophthora diseases, caused for example by Phytophthora cactorum;

Pythium diseases, caused for example by Pythium ultimum;

Rhizoctonia diseases, caused for example by Rhizoctonia solani;

Sclerotium diseases, caused for example by Sclerotium rolfsii;

Microdochium diseases, caused for example by Microdochium nivale;

Canker, broom and dieback diseases such as:

Nectria diseases, caused for example by Nectria galligena;

Blight diseases such as:

Monilinia diseases, caused for example by Monilinia laxa;

Leaf blister or leaf curl diseases such as:

Taphrina diseases, caused for example by Taphrina deformans;

Decline diseases of wooden plants such as:

Esca diseases, caused for example by Phaemoniella clamydospora;

Diseases of flowers and Seeds such as:

Botrytis diseases, caused for example by Botrytis cinerea;

Diseases of tubers such as:

Rhizoctonia diseases, caused for example by Rhizoctonia solani.

The fungicide composition according to the present invention may also be used against fungal diseases liable to grow on or inside timber. The term “timber” means all types of species of wood, and all types of working of this wood intended for construction, for example solid wood, high-density wood, laminated wood, and plywood. The method for treating timber according to the invention mainly consists in contacting one or more compounds of the present invention, or a composition according to the invention; this includes for example direct application, spraying, dipping, injection or any other suitable means.

The dose of active material usually applied in the treatment according to the present invention is generally and advantageously between 10 and 800 g/ha, preferably between 50 and 300 g/ha for applications in foliar treatment. The dose of active substance applied is generally and advantageously between 2 and 200 g per 100 kg of seed, preferably between 3 and 150 g per 100 kg of seed in the case of seed treatment. It is clearly understood that the doses indicated above are given as illustrative examples of the invention. A person skilled in the art will know how to adapt the application doses according to the nature of the crop to be treated.

The fungicidal composition according to the present invention may also be used in the treatment of genetically modified organisms with the compounds according to the invention or the agrochemical compositions according to the invention. Genetically modified plants are plants into whose genome a heterologous gene encoding a protein of interest has been stably integrated. The expression “heterologous gene encoding a protein of interest” essentially means genes which give the transformed plant new agronomic properties, or genes for improving the agronomic quality of the transformed plant.

The compositions according to the present invention may also be used for the preparation of composition useful to curatively or preventively treat human and animal fungal diseases such as, for example, mycoses, dermatoses, trichophyton diseases and candidiases or diseases caused by Aspergillus spp., for example Aspergillus fumigatus.

The aspects of the present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following tables of compounds and examples. The following Table illustrates in a non-limiting manner examples of fungicidal compounds according to the present invention. In the following Examples, M+1 (or M−1) means the molecular ion peak, plus or minus 1 a.m.u. (atomic mass units) respectively, as observed in mass spectroscopy and M (ApcI+) means the molecular ion peak as it was found via positive atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation in mass spectroscopy.

TABLE A

Compound R¹ R² R³ R⁴ R⁵ X¹ X² X³ X⁴ X⁵ Q Y^(a) Y¹ Y² (M + 1) A-1 H H Me H H H H Cl H H S CF₃ H H 406 A-2 H H Me H H H H Cl H H S Me H H 352

TABLE B

Compound R¹ R² R³ R⁴ R⁵ X¹ X² X³ X⁴ X⁵ Y¹ Y² Y^(a) (M + 1) B-1 H H Me H H H H Cl H H H H Br 358 B-2 H H Me H Cyclopropyl H H Cl H H H H I 445 B-3 H H Me H H H H Cl H H I H H 406 B-4 H H Me H H H H Cl H H Me H H 294

TABLE C

Compound R¹ R² R³ R⁴ R⁵ X¹ X² X³ X⁴ X⁵ Y^(a) Y¹ Y² Y³ (M + 1) C-1 H H Me H Cyclopropyl H H Cl H H CF₃ H Me H 384 C-2 H H Me H H H H Cl H H CF₃ H Me H 345

TABLE D

Compound R¹ R² R³ R⁴ R⁵ X¹ X² X³ X⁴ X⁵ Y¹ Y^(a) (M + 1) D-1 H H Me H Cyclopropyl H H Cl H H Me CF₃ 403 D-2 H H Me H Cyclopropyl H H Cl H H Me CHF₂ 385 D-3 H H Me H H H H Cl H H Me CHF₂ 345

TABLE E

Compound R¹ R² R³ R⁴ R⁵ X¹ X² X³ X⁴ X⁵ Y^(a) Y¹ Y² Y³ (M + 1) E-1 H H Me H H H H Cl H H Cl H H H 348

TABLE F

Compound R¹ R² R³ R⁴ R⁵ X¹ X² X³ X⁴ X⁵ Y^(a) Y¹ Y² (M + 1) F-1 H H Me H Cyclopropyl H H Cl H H CF₃ H Me 386 F-2 H H Me H H H H Cl H H CHF₂ H Me 328 F-3 H H Me H Cyclopropyl H H Cl H H CHF₂ H Me 368 F-3 H H Me H Cyclopropyl H H Cl H H OMe H Me 348 F-4 H H Me H Cyclopropyl H H Cl H H OEt H Me 362 F-5 H H Me H Cyclopropyl H H Cl H H Me F Me 349

TABLE G

Compound R¹ R² R³ R⁴ R⁵ X¹ X² X³ X⁴ X⁵ Y^(a) Y¹ Y² (M + 1) G-1 H H Me H Cyclopropyl H H Cl H H Me H H 317 G-2 H H Me H H H H Cl H H Me H H 278

TABLE H

Compound R¹ R² R³ R⁴ R⁵ X¹ X² X³ X⁴ X⁵ Y^(a) Y¹ Y² (M + 1) H-1 H H Me H Cyclopropyl H H Cl H H Br H H 399 H-2 H H Me H Cyclopropyl H H Cl H H Me H H 334 H-3 H H Me H Cyclopropyl H H Cl H H I H H 446

EXAMPLES OF PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COMPOUND OF GENERAL FORMULA (I) Preparation of 3-bromo-N-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methylethyl]thiophene-2-carboxamide (Compound B-1)

140 mg of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)propan-2-amine hydrochloride (0.70 mmol) and 0.107 ml of triethylamine (0.77 mmol) are diluted in 4 ml of THF at room temperature, 173 mg of 3-bromothiophene-2-carbonyl chloride (0.77 mmol) in solution in 4 ml of THF are added to the reaction mixture.

After 48 hours of stirring, the reaction mixture is filtered over basic alumina and then concentrated to dryness to yield to 0.18 g of essentially pure 3-bromo-N-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methylethyl]thiophene-2-carboxamide (yield=64%).

[M+1]=358.

Preparation of 2-bromo-N-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methylethyl]-N-cyclopropylthiophene-3-carboxamide (Compound H-1) Preparation of N-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methylethyl]cyclopropanamine hydrochloride

Under argon are mixed, in 150 ml of methanol, 10.1 g of cyclopropylamine (0.177 mol) and 12.6 ml of acetic acid (0.221 mol). 15.0 g of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)acetone (0.088 mol) and 15 g of 3 Å molecular sieves are then added. The reaction mixture is refluxed for 3 hours. After cooling to room temperature, 8.34 g of sodium cyanoborohydride (0.13 mol) are added to the reaction mixture which is refluxed again for 3 hours. After one night at room temperature, 3 g of cyanoborhydride (0.048 mol) and 8 ml of acetic acid (0.126 mol) are added to the reaction mixture which is refluxed for three hours. After cooling to room temperature, filtration over celite and concentration in vacuo, 250 ml of dichloromethane and 400 ml of NaOH 1M are added to the reaction mixture.

After separation, the aqueous phase is extracted with 250 ml of dichloromethane, the combined organic phases are washed with 1550 ml of water and 200 ml of brine. After drying over magnesium sulphate, filtration and concentration, the crude amine is precipitated with HCl 2M in ether to yield to 19.06 g of N-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methylethyl]cyclopropanamine hydrochloride (yield=88%).

[M+1-HCl]=210.

Preparation of 2-bromo-N-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methylethyl]-N-cyclopropylthiophene-3-carboxamide

300 mg of N-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methylethyl]cyclopropanamine hydrochloride (1.218 mmol), 265 mg of 2-bromothiophene-3-carboxylic acid (1.28 mmol), 16 mg of 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (0.12 mmol), 256 mg of 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (1.34 mmol) and 0.171 ml of TEA (1.22 mmol) are refluxed in 10 ml of dichloromethane for one hour. After 48 hours at room temperature, the reaction is quenched with 5 ml of HCl 0.5M.

After separation, the organic phase is washed with 5 ml of water and 5 ml of a saturated solution of sodium bicarbonate, dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product is flash-chromatographed on silica with heptane/EtOAc to yield to 190 mg of 2-bromo-N-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methylethyl]-N-cyclopropylthiophene-3-carboxamide (yield=39%).

[M+1]=399.

Examples of Biological Activity of the Compound of General Formula (I) Example A In Vivo Test on Alternaria brassicae (Leaf Spot of Crucifers)

The active ingredients tested are prepared by homogenization in a mixture of acetone/tween/DMSO, then diluted with water to obtain the desired active material concentration.

Radish plants (Pernot variety), sown on a 50/50 peat soil-pozzolana substrate in starter cups and grown at 18-20° C., are treated at the cotyledon stage by spraying with the active ingredient prepared as described above.

Plants, used as controls, are treated with the mixture of acetone/tween/DMSO/water not containing the active material.

After 24 hours, the plants are contaminated by spraying them with an aqueous suspension of Alternaria brassicae spores (40,000 spores per cm³). The spores are collected from a 12 to 13 days-old culture.

The contaminated radish plants are incubated for 6-7 days at about 18° C., under a humid atmosphere.

Grading is carried out 6 to 7 days after the contamination, in comparison with the control plants.

Under these conditions, good (at least 70%) or total protection is observed at a dose of 500 ppm with the following compounds: B-1, B-2, B-4, C-1, C-2, D-2, D-3, F-2, F-3, F-4, F-6, F-7, G-2 and H-1.

Example B In Vivo Test on Botrytis cinerea (Cucumber Grey Mould)

The active ingredients tested are prepared by homogenization in a mixture of acetone/tween/DMSO, then diluted with water to obtain the desired active material

Gherkin plants (Vert petit de Paris variety), sown on a 50/50 peat soil-pozzolana substrate in starter cups and grown at 18-20° C., are treated at the cotyledon Z11 stage by spraying with the active ingredient prepared as described above.

Plants, used as controls, are treated with the mixture of acetone/tween/DMSO/water not containing the active material.

After 24 hours, the plants are contaminated by depositing drops of an aqueous suspension of Botrytis cinerea spores (150,000 spores per ml) on upper surface of the leaves. The spores are collected from a 15-day-old culture and are suspended in a nutrient solution composed of:

-   -   20 g/L of gelatin     -   50 g/L of cane sugar     -   2 g/L of NH4NO3     -   1 g/L of KH2PO4

The contaminated cucumber plants are settled for 5/7 days in a climatic room at 15-11° C. (day/night) and at 80% relative humidity.

Grading is carried out 5/7 days after the contamination, in comparison with the control plants. Under these conditions, good (at least 50%) or total protection is observed at a dose of 500 ppm with the following compounds: B-1, C-2, D-3, F-2, F-6 and G-2.

Example C In Vivo Test on Sphaerotheca fuliginea (Cucurbit Powdery Mildew)

The active ingredients tested are prepared by homogenization in a mixture of acetone/tween/DMSO, then diluted with water to obtain the desired active material concentration.

Gherkin plants (Vert petit de Paris variety), sown on a 50/50 peat soil-pozzolana substrate in starter cups and grown at 20° C./23° C., are treated at the 2-leaves stage by spraying with the aqueous suspension described above Plants, used as controls, are treated with the mixture of acetone/tween/DMSO/water not containing the active material.

After 24 hours, the plants are contaminated by spraying them with an aqueous suspension of Sphaerotheca fuliginea spores (100 000 spores per ml). The spores are collected from a contaminated plants. The contaminated gherkin plants are incubated at about 20° C./25° C. and at 60/70% relative humidity.

Grading (% of efficacy) is carried out 21 days after the contamination, in comparison with the control plants.

Under these conditions, good (at least 70%) or total protection is observed at a dose of 500 ppm with the following compounds: B-3, D-1, D-2, F-2, F-3, F-4 and F-6.

Example D In Vivo Test on Mycosphaerella graminicola (Wheat Leaf Spot)

The active ingredients tested are prepared by homogenization in a mixture of acetone/tween/DMSO, then diluted with water to obtain the desired active material concentration.

Wheat plants (Scipion variety), sown on a 50/50 peat soil-pozzolana substrate in starter cups and grown at 12° C., are treated at the 1-leaf stage (10 cm tall) by spraying with the active ingredient prepared as described above.

Plants, used as controls, are treated with the mixture of acetone/tween/DMSO/water not containing the active material.

After 24 hours, the plants are contaminated by spraying them with an aqueous suspension of Mycosphaerella graminicola spores (500 000 spores per ml). The spores are collected from a 7-day-old culture. The contaminated wheat plants are incubated for 72 hours at 18° C. and at 100% relative humidity, and then for 21 to 28 days at 90% relative humidity.

Grading (% of efficacy) is carried out 21 to 28 days after the contamination, in comparison with the control plants.

Under these conditions, good (at least 70%) or total protection is observed:

-   -   at a dose of 500 ppm with the following compounds: B-1, B-3,         B-4, C-2, D-3, F-5 and F-6; and     -   at a dose of 500 g/ha with the following compound: F-4.

Example E In Vivo Test on Pyrenophora teres (Barley Net Blotch)

The active ingredients tested are prepared by homogenization in a mixture of acetone/tween/DMSO, then diluted with water to obtain the desired active material concentration.

Barley plants (Express variety), sown on a 50/50 peat soil-pozzolana substrate in starter cups and grown at 12° C., are treated at the 1-leaf stage (10 cm tall) by spraying with the active ingredient prepared as described above. Plants, used as controls, are treated with the mixture of acetone/tween/DMSO/water not containing the active material.

After 24 hours, the plants are contaminated by spraying them with an aqueous suspension of Pyrenophora teres spores (12,000 spores per ml). The spores are collected from a 12-day-old culture The contaminated barley plants are incubated for 24 hours at about 20° C. and at 100% relative humidity, and then for 12 days at 80% relative humidity.

Grading is carried out 12 days after the contamination, in comparison with the control plants.

Under these conditions, good (at least 70%) or total protection is observed at a dose of 500 ppm with the following compounds: B-3, B-4, C-1, D-1, D-2, F-1, F-2, F-3, F-4, F-6 and F-7. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A compound of formula (I)

in which: n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; each X is independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, an amino group, a sulfanyl group, a pentafluoro-λ⁶-sulfanyl group, a formyl group, a formyloxy group, a formylamino group, a carbamoyl group, a N-hydroxycarbamoyl group, a carbamate group, a (hydroxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl group, a C₁-C₈-alkyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₂-C₈-alkenyl, a C₂-C₈-alkynyl, a C₁-C₈-alkylamino, a di-C₁-C₈-alkylamino, a C₁-C₈-alkoxy, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkoxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylsulfanyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylsulfanyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₂-C₈-alkenyloxy, a C₂-C₈-halogenoalkenyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₃-C₈-alkynyloxy, a C₃-C₈-halogenoalkynyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, a C₃-C₈-halogenocycloalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylcarbonyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylcarbonyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylcarbamoyl, a di-C₁-C₈-alkylcarbamoyl, a N—C₁-C₈-alkyloxycarbamoyl, a C₁-C₈-alkoxycarbamoyl, a N—C₁-C₈-alkyl-C₁-C₈-alkoxycarbamoyl, a C₁-C₈-alkoxycarbonyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkoxycarbonyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylcarbonyloxy, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylcarbonyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylcarbonylamino, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylcarbonylamino having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylaminocarbonyloxy, a di-C₁-C₈-alkylaminocarbonyloxy, a C₁-C₈-alkyloxycarbonyloxy, a C₁-C₈-alkylsulfenyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylsulfenyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylsulfinyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylsulfinyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylsulfonyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylsulfonyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a (C₁-C₆-alkoxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a (C₁-C₆-alkenyloxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a (C₁-C₆-alkynyloxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a (benzyloxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a benzyloxy, a benzylsulfanyl, a benzylamino, a phenoxy, a phenylsulfanyl, and a phenylamino; R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₆-alkyl, and a C₁-C₆-alkyl-C₃-C₇-cycloalkyl; provided that at least one of R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ is different from hydrogen; R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₆-alkyl, and a C₃-C₇-cycloalkyl; Y^(a) is selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a cyano group, a sulfanyl group, a pentafluoro-λ⁶-sulfanyl group, a formyl group, a C₁-C₈-alkyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₂-C₈-alkenyl, a C₂-C₈-alkynyl, a C₁-C₈-alkoxy, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkoxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylsulfanyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylsulfanyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkenyloxy, a C₂-C₈-halogenoalkenyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₃-C₈-alkynyloxy, a C₃-C₈-halogenoalkynyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, and a C₃-C₈-halogenocycloalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms; and Y¹, Y², and Y³ are independently selected from the group consist of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C₁-C₆-alkyl; a C₁-C₆-halogenoalkyl, an amino group, a cyano group, a C₁-C₄-alkylamino and a di-(C₁-C₄-alkyl)amino; as well as any salt, N-oxide, or optically active isomer thereof.
 2. The compound of claim 1 wherein n is 1, 2 or
 3. 3. The compound of claim 1 wherein each X is independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a (hydroxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl group, a C₁-C₈-alkyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a (C₁-C₆-alkoxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a (C₁-C₆-alkenyloxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl, and a (C₁-C₆-alkynyloxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl.
 4. The compound of claim 1 wherein R¹ and R² are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a halogen atom.
 5. The compound of claim 1 wherein R³ and R⁴ are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and C₁-C₈-alkyl.
 6. The compound of claim 1 wherein Y^(a) is selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a C₁-C₈-alkyl, and a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.
 7. The compound of claim 1 wherein Y¹, Y², and Y³ are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, and a C₁-C₆-alkyl.
 8. A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I),

which comprises reacting a 1-alkyl-2-phenylethylamine derivative of general formula (II) or one of its salts

in which n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; each X is independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, an amino group, a sulfanyl group, a pentafluoro-λ⁶-sulfanyl group, a formyl group, a formyloxy group, a formylamino group, a carbamoyl group, a N-hydroxycarbamoyl group, a carbamate group, a (hydroxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl group, a C₁-C₈-alkyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₂-C₈-alkenyl, a C₂-C₈alkynyl, a C₁-C₈-alkylamino, a di-C₁-C₈-alkylamino, a C₁-C₈-alkoxy, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkoxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylsulfanyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylsulfanyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₂-C₈-alkenyloxy, a C₂-C₈ halogenoalkenyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₃-C₈-alkynyloxy, a C₃-C₈-halogenoalkynyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, a C₃-C₈-halogenocycloalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylcarbonyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylcarbonyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylcarbamoyl, a di-C₁-C₈-alkylcarbamoyl, a N—C₁-C₈-alkyloxycarbamoyl, a C₁-C₈-alkoxycarbamoyl, a N—C₁-C₈-alkyl-C₁-C₈-alkoxycarbamoyl, a C₁-C₈-alkoxycarbonyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkoxycarbonyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylcarbonyloxy, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylcarbonyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈alkylcarbonylamino, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylcarbonylamino having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylaminocarbonyloxy, a di-C₁-C₈-alkylaminocarbonyloxy, a C₁-C₈-alkyloxycarbonyloxy, C₁-C₈-alkylsulfenyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylsulfenyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylsulfinyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylsulfinyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylsulfonyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylsulfonyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a (C₁-C₆-alkoxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a (C₁-C₆-alkenyloxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a (C₁-C₆-alkynyloxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a (benzyloxyimino)-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a benzyloxy, a benzylsulfanyl, a benzylamino, a phenoxy, a phenylsulfanyl, and a phenylamino, R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₆-alkyl, and a C₁-C₆-alkyl-C₃-C₇-cycloalkyl; provided that at least one of R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ is different from hydrogen; and R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₆-alkyl, and a C₃-C₇-cycloalkyl; with a carboxylic acid derivative of the formula (III)

in which: Het is a 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocycle comprising one, two or three heteroatoms which may be the same or different; Het being linked by a carbon atom; Ya is an ortho-substituent and is selected from the group consisting of halogen atom, a cyano group, a sulfanyl group, a pentafluoro-λ⁶-sulfanyl group, a formyl group, a C₁-C₈-alkyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₂-C₈-alkenyl, a C₂-C₈-alkynyl, a C₁-C₈-alkoxy, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkoxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkylsulfanyl, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkylsulfanyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₂-C₈-alkenyloxy, a C₂-C₈-halogenoalkenyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₁-C₈-alkynyloxy, a C₁-C₈-halogenoalkynyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl, and a C₃-C₈-halogenocycloalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, each Y is independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C₁-C₆-alkyl, a C₁-C₆-halogenoalkyl, an amino group, a cyano group, a C₁-C₄-alkylamino, and a di-(C₁-C₄-alkyl)amino; p is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; and L¹ is a leaving group selected from the group consisting of (A) a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, —OR⁷⁷, and —OCOR⁷⁷, wherein R⁷⁷ is selected from the group consisting of a C₁-C₆ alkyl, a C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, a benzyl, 4-methoxybenzyl, and pentafluorophenyl, and (B) a group of the formula

in the presence of a catalyst and, if L¹ is a hydroxyl group, in the presence of a condensing agent.
 9. The process of claim 8, wherein R⁵ is a hydrogen atom and that the process is completed by a further step according to the following reaction scheme:

in which L² is a leaving group selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a 4-methyl phenylsulfonyloxy, and a methylsulfonyloxy; and R^(5a) is a C₁-C₆-alkyl group or a C₃-C₇-cycloalkyl; comprising reacting a compound of general formula (Ib) with a compound of general formula (VI) to provide a compound of general formula (Ia).
 10. A fungicide composition comprising an effective amount of the compound of claim 1 and an agriculturally acceptable support.
 11. A method for combating the phytopathogenic fungi of crops comprising applying an effective and non-phytotoxic amount of the composition of claim 10 to the plant seeds or to the plant leaves and/or to the fruits of the plants or to the soil in which the plants are growing or in which it is desired to grow them.
 12. The compound of claim 1 wherein Y^(a) is selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a cyano group, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, and a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms; Y¹ and Y² are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, and a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms; and Y³ is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a cyano group, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, and a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.
 13. A compound of the formula

wherein: X¹, X², X³, X⁴, and X⁵ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and halogen, provided that at least one of X¹, X², X³, X⁴, and X⁵ is halogen; R¹, R², R³, and R⁴ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₆ alkyl, provided that at least one of R¹, R², R³, and R⁴ is C₁-C₆ alkyl; R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, and C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; Y^(a) is selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a cyano group, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, and a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms; Y¹ and Y³ are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, and a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms; and Y² is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a cyano group, a C₁-C₄-alkyl, a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.
 14. The compound of claim 13 wherein X¹, X², X⁴, and X⁵ are hydrogen and X³ is halogen.
 15. The compound of claim 14 wherein R¹, R², and R⁴ are hydrogen and R³ is C₁-C₆ alkyl.
 16. The compound of claim 15 wherein Y^(a) is a C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms and Y¹, Y², and Y³ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl.
 17. A method for combating the phytopathogenic fungi of crops comprising applying an effective and non-phytotoxic amount of a composition comprising the compound of claim 16 to the plant seeds or to the plant leaves and/or to the fruits of the plants or to the soil in which the plants are growing or in which it is desired to grow them.
 18. The compound of claim 13 having the structural formula:


19. A method for combating the phytopathogenic fungi of crops comprising applying an effective and non-phytotoxic amount of a composition comprising the compound of claim 18 to the plant seeds or to the plant leaves and/or to the fruits of the plants or to the soil in which the plants are growing or in which it is desired to grow them. 